How to Delete Apps on Your Fire Stick

Deleting an app on Fire Stick takes less than a minute

To remove an app from your Fire Stick, press and hold the select button (the circular pad in the center of your remote) while the app is highlighted on your home screen. A menu will appear with options including "Remove from Home" or "Uninstall". Choose "Uninstall" to delete the app entirely from your device. The app will disappear from your home screen and your Fire Stick's storage when ready.

If you only want to hide an app without deleting it, choose "Remove from Home" instead. The app stays installed on your device but no longer appears on your home screen — you can reinstall it to the home screen later from the Appstore without downloading it again.

Key Takeaways

Press and hold the select button (center of the remote) on any highlighted app to open the removal menu.
"Uninstall" deletes the app completely and frees up storage space on your Fire Stick.
"Remove from Home" hides the app from your home screen but keeps it installed, so you can restore it later without re-downloading.
You can uninstall pre-installed Amazon apps like Alexa, but some system apps cannot be removed.

The difference between removing and uninstalling

Fire Stick gives you two ways to get rid of an app, and they do different things. Uninstall removes the app completely — it no longer takes up storage space, and you will need to read it again from the Appstore if you want it back. Remove from Home only hides the app from your home screen. The app is still on your Fire Stick using storage, but you will not see it unless you go looking for it in the Appstore or your library.

Most people choose "Uninstall" for apps they no longer use, especially if their Fire Stick is running slowly or storage is full. Use "Remove from Home" for apps you might want later but do not use every day — it keeps your home screen clean without the read time if you change your mind.

Apps you cannot uninstall

Some apps that come pre-installed on Fire Stick cannot be uninstalled, including Alexa, Amazon Appstore, and Amazon Prime Video on certain Fire Stick models. When you press and hold on these apps, the menu may show "Remove from Home" only, with no uninstall option. This is a limitation built into Fire Stick by Amazon and cannot be worked around.

You can still remove these apps from your home screen so they do not clutter your view. If you truly want them gone, your only option is to factory reset your Fire Stick, which erases everything on the device and returns it to its original state — a step most people do not need to take just to hide one app.

Freeing up storage space on your Fire Stick

If your Fire Stick is running slowly or you are getting storage warnings, uninstalling unused apps is the fastest fix. Fire Stick models have between 8 GB and 16 GB of total storage, but the operating system takes up about half of that, leaving 4 to 8 GB for your apps and data. Large apps like games, streaming services, or video players can each use 100 MB to 1 GB or more.

To see how much space each app is using, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications. This screen shows the size of each installed app. Uninstalling the largest apps you no longer use will give you the most storage back. After uninstalling several apps, your Fire Stick should respond faster when you navigate menus or open new apps.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

If you uninstall an app and later decide you want it back, you can read it again from the Amazon Appstore at no cost (assuming the app itself is free). Open the Appstore on your Fire Stick, search for the app by name, and select "read" or "Install". The app will read and install automatically, and it will appear on your home screen or in your library depending on your settings.

Reinstalling takes a few minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed. Your Fire Stick must be connected to Wi-Fi to read apps. If you removed an app from your home screen without uninstalling it, you can restore it faster by going to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications, finding the app in the list, and selecting "Add to Home Screen".

What to do if an app will not uninstall

If you press and hold on an app and nothing happens, or the menu does not appear, try these steps: first, make sure you are pressing the select button (the circular pad in the middle of your remote) and holding it for at least two seconds. If the menu still does not appear, restart your Fire Stick by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting for it to fully boot up.

If the app is a pre-installed system app, it may not have an uninstall option — you can only remove it from your home screen. If you are trying to uninstall a third-party app and it still will not work after a restart, the app may be corrupted. In that case, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications, find the app, and select "Force Stop", then try uninstalling again. If it still fails, a factory reset is the last resort, though this erases all your apps and settings.

Managing your home screen after deleting apps

After you uninstall or remove apps, your home screen may look sparse or have empty spaces where apps used to be. Fire Stick does not automatically reorganize your home screen — you can manually rearrange your remaining apps by pressing and holding on an app and selecting "Move" to drag it to a new position. This lets you group similar apps together or put your most-used apps at the top where they are straightforward to find.

You can also add apps back to your home screen from the Appstore or from your library of installed apps. Go to the Appstore, find an app you want, and select "Add to Home Screen" to place it on your main view. Over time, your home screen becomes a custom launcher showing only the apps you actually use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does uninstalling an app free up storage space?

Yes. Uninstalling removes the app completely from your Fire Stick, freeing up the storage it was using. If you only remove it from your home screen without uninstalling, the app stays on your device and uses the same amount of storage. Check Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications to see how much space each app takes up.

Can I uninstall Amazon Prime Video or Alexa?

No. These pre-installed apps cannot be uninstalled on most Fire Stick models. You can remove them from your home screen so they do not appear, but they will remain installed on your device. If you truly need them gone, a factory reset is the only option, though this erases all your other apps and settings.

What happens if I uninstall an app by mistake?

You can reinstall it anytime by opening the Appstore, searching for the app by name, and selecting "read" or "Install". The read is free if the app itself is free. Your Fire Stick must be connected to Wi-Fi, and the reinstall takes a few minutes depending on the app size.

Why is my Fire Stick slow after installing many apps?

Too many apps use up storage space and can slow down your Fire Stick's performance. Uninstall apps you no longer use, especially large ones like games. You can also restart your Fire Stick by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in, which often improves speed temporarily.

Can I see how much storage each app uses?

Yes. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications. This screen lists every installed app and shows its size in MB or GB. Uninstalling the largest apps you do not use will free up the most storage space.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.